Celtic 5-1 Aberdeen: Dazien Maeda scores a double as Hoops extend Scottish Premiership lead against Dons

Clinical Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 16 points after they returned to winning ways against Aberdeen.

Brendan Rodgers wanted a reaction after their draw at Hibs and after the Dons failed to capitalise on early chances, Daizen Maeda volleyed in the opener.

Goals from Jota and Callum McGregor all but ended the game before the break with Hyun-Jun Yang coming on to add a fourth.

The Hoops were just minutes away from setting a new record of 10 successive home league victories without conceding a goal before Shayden Morris’ late consolation.

Maeda then seized upon on a deflected Arne Engels shot in stoppage time to wrap up the victory as Celtic remain unbeaten domestically at home this season.

Aberdeen remain in third.

Celtic charge towards another Premiership title

With 10 fixtures remaining, Celtic moved further ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers, who play on Wednesday, and are firmly on course for a domestic treble.

Rodgers reshuffled his pack with winger Jota, left-back Jeffrey Schlupp and midfielder Reo Hatate back in the side.

Thelin had asked his team for bravery but that appeared to be missing in the seventh minute as a swift counter-attack ended when Oday Dabbagh, making his first start, somehow failed to get a touch on a pass from Jeppe Okkels as keeper Kasper Schmeichel rushed out to meet him.

Moments later, the Hoops number one passed straight to Dons striker Kevin Nisbet but his shot sped past the far post.

It was two good opportunities spurned and almost inevitably they proved crucial.

Celtic’s first goal in the 24th minute came when Kristers Tobers’ interception of an Arne Engels through ball spun high into the air and when it came down, Maeda was first to react, volleying past hesitant keeper Ross Doohan from six yards.

Six minutes later Jota broke on the counter with pace against a stretched Dons defence and when his pass to Engels was returned he scuffed the ball into the net from 10 yards.

Aberdeen missed another chance when Okkels was played in by Dabbagh but mis-hit his shot wide with the sloppy visitors then made to pay when McGregor curled in a third after getting the break of the ball just on half-time.

Thelin replaced Nisbet and Okkels with Morris and Pape Gueye for the start of the second half and soon Rodgers, with the points secure, brought on Adam Idah, Yang and Luke McCowan for Jota, Nicolas Kuhn and Hatate.

In keeping with Aberdeen’s night, Morris powered his way past Celtic defender Auston Trusty in the 64th minute but with only Schmeichel to beat he screwed his unconvincing effort past the far post.

Again, the visitors suffered when Yang worked a one-two with McCowan inside the Aberdeen box and slipped the ball past Doohan at the near post.

Midfielder Jude Bonnar, 19, came on to make his Celtic debut with 10 minutes remaining, before Morris beat Schmeichel at his near post with a powerful drive but Celtic ran back up the pitch and Maeda knocked an Alistair Johnston cross in from close range to finish the game on a high.

What’s coming up in the Scottish Premiership?